OL97: How to Stop Outlook from Dialing ISP When Starting Up

When you start Microsoft Outlook, it may automatically try to make a dial- up connection if your profile contains an Internet Mail transport service. This article describes how to prevent Outlook from dialing the modem when starting so that you can work off-line and use Remote Mail. With Remote Mail, Outlook makes the dial-up connection only while you are checking and delivering mail.

You can use one of two different Internet mail transport services with Outlook 97. You can use either the original Internet Mail transport service or the Microsoft Outlook 97 Internet Mail Enhancement Patch (IMEP).

For more information on how to determine what Internet Mail transport you have, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: The steps below show how you can prevent an automatic dial-up connection when using each of these transport services:

Original Internet Mail Transport Service

To prevent an automatic dial-up connection, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Services.
2. Click to select Internet Mail and click Properties.
3. Click the Connection tab.
4. Click to check "Work Offline and use Remote Mail."
5. Click OK to close the Internet Mail Properties Dialog.
6. Click OK to close the Services Dialog.
7. On the File menu, click "Exit and Log Off."
8. Restart Outlook.

Internet Mail Enhancement Patch

Using the IMEP default settings, Outlook will not automatically dial your ISP and check mail. If Outlook does automatically dial your ISP when starting and you have the latest version of IMEP, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Services.
2. Click to select Internet E-mail and click Properties.
3. Click the Connection tab.
4. Click to select "Disconnect when finished sending and receiving." (This is the equivalent of "Work Offline and use Remote Mail.")
5. Make sure "I use a modem to access my e-mail" is selected and that the "Use the following Dial-Up Networking connection" box reflects your ISP dial-up connection.
6. Click OK and OK to close all dialog boxes.
7. Restart Outlook.

If Outlook Still Dials-Up Automatically

If you have followed the appropriate steps above and Outlook still automatically dials your Internet service provider to check mail, turn off your Internet Connection option to "Connect to the Internet as needed" by following these steps:

1. In Windows, click Start, point to Settings and click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, double-click the Internet icon.
3. Under the Connection tab, click to clear "Connect to the Internet as needed." If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, you may want to select "Connect to the Internet using a Local Area Network," however if you do, you will have to connect to the Internet using your Dial-up Networking Connectoid to check for new e-mail.
   
   NOTE: This setting also effects the behavior of Microsoft Internet Explorer.

For more information about configuring Internet Mail, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information on an unexpected Internet logon screen appearing, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: